Chapter 350: Each Holds a Hidden Plot

"Empress, think twice before you act; you are not alone now."

Qi Qi knelt behind her, urging persistently: "Now the plan has reached the critical moment."

"As long as those outside think you, Empress, are gone, only then will they reveal their tracks."

"We have planned step by step; after much effort we have reached this point, we cannot give up lightly!"

Qi Qi's voice was full of pleading.

The Duke of Ning has handed over the military tally; now Chu Yunzheng holds three such tallies.

Bai Li's mother met with an incident, deliberately pointing the blame at the Duke of Ning.

The Bai family will certainly have the Duke of Ning intervene.

When Bai Li begins to scheme with the tallies and the Bai family moves again, it will also be the best moment to expose the Empress's murder.

At that moment, the truth will be revealed.

All motives will no longer relate to Bai Li; they will appear as Chu Yunzheng's deliberate act.

Bai Li is merely a pawn in Chu Yunzheng's hand; a ruler, for the sake of autocracy, even dares to plot against the loyal Old Minister.

Becoming an object despised by the world.

Wan Tang does not dare look back at all, nor has she the courage to face the disappointment in Qi Qi's eyes.

She knows better than anyone how much effort they have spent to plan step by step to this point.

Wan Tang insists on charging outward.

Qi Qi kneels, pleading bitterly, even blocking the doorway with his body.

"Empress, I beg you, Xiao Shunzi is watching in the Imperial Palace."

"Moreover, Hui Guifei is a heroine who roams the battlefield; who could match her?"

Wan Tang's voice trembles: "Do you know that the Imperial harem is more terrifying than the battlefield!"

"Old Minister only knows that those who plot great deeds do not mind small details."

Qi Qi's eyes reddened, kneeling there without a twitch.

Chu Yunzheng, Gou Royal Brother, really intends to kill Ning Daying alive!

That Bai Li Bichi, who could not bear healthy children, is now using it to harm Ning Daying.

Is Bai Li only targeting Ning Daying? Clearly this is aimed at Hui Guifei, knowing she values loyalty above all; she appears cold daily, but once she decides, she'll risk her life to protect.

Furious, Gou Royal Brother saw Shenxing Si not moving true skill, and actually let Ouyang Qing carry it out personally.

Wan Tang grew even more panicked.

If it were only Shenxing Si, there would still be room for manipulation.

But Ouyang Qing, he is someone who would only be loyal to the Emperor.

Even though Ning Daying is merely Hui Guifei's clan sister, in Hui Guifei's heart she has long been regarded as a biological sister.

"Step aside!" Wan Tang's voice was icy, bearing undeniable resolve.

Qi Qi did not budge an inch.

"Master, hurry." Xiao Shunzi, leading a fine horse, hurried over, whispering: "Empress, I, Nubi, care not for the world; I only know that whatever can make you anxious must be the most important matter."

Wan Tang gave Xiao Shunzi a deep look and, without hesitation, swung onto the horse.

She clutched the horse's belly and surged into the night.

Qi Qi's voice behind her was mournful: "Empress, you must think clearly; behind you are still hundreds of thousands of people!"

Wan Tang, anxious to save, clenched her back teeth.

Thoughts raced, worrying about Hui Guifei on one side while quickly devising a response on the other.

Urged hastily, unskilled in riding, she lost balance on the bumpy mountain path, let out a scream, and fell off the horse.

The horse let out a mournful whinny and fell to the ground.

Wan Tang's whole body ached, darkness clouded her vision.

She gritted her teeth, struggling to rise.

But faced with the horse she could not get up, she was at a loss.

Should she run back?

Would there still be time?

For the first time, Wan Tang loathed herself so much for her uselessness; during idle days in the palace, how could she not have learned proper horsemanship?

"Don't move."

A warm, strong hand firmly wrapped around her waist, with a slight lift, pulled her entirely from the ground.

She was caught off guard, falling into a familiar embrace.

From above came Su Yanci's gentle voice: "It's dark and the road is slippery; I'll escort you back to the temple."

Su Yanci's voice trembled with panic.

Clearly Wan Tang's fall alarmed him.

But that undeniable voice made him even more frightened; he hurriedly grabbed Su Yanci's hand: "No, back to the palace."

Su Yanci was stunned.

Now their plan, returning to the palace, would simply expose their tracks.

Su Yanci lowered his gaze, his eyes landing on the hands that clutched him tightly.

Wan Tang trembled…

"Fine!" Su Yanci said without further question, simply: "Let me escort you."

"Your Majesty!"

The horsewhip cracked in the air, and hooves echoed through the night.

Changchun Palace.

Bai Li weakly leans in Chu Yunzheng's arms, her complexion as pale as paper, silent tears rolling down.

"Emperor, Subject has longed since her teens to bear children for the Emperor."

"Do you know how happy I was when I learned I was pregnant?"

"But our child..." she chokes, unable to continue.

Chu Yunzheng holds her tightly, soothing softly: "It is my fault, I failed to protect you and the child."

"Do not blame the Emperor..." Bai Li shakes her head, tears wetting her small face, "Only blame the Subject's thin fortune."

"From the moment of my birth, Subject was destined to be despised."

"In childhood, I was like a mouse that cannot see the light; later, after entering the mansion, the Ning family's children bullied me."

"Only my mother protected me time after time, preventing me from being hurt."

"Now, even my mother..." she says, and becomes unable to speak through sobs.

Chu Yunzheng is startled: "Li'er, what else has happened?"

Bai Li nods sorrowfully: "This morning the news came that my mother was murdered..."

"I was already heartbroken, and I did not want Ning Daying to see this and mock again."

"Thinking of all those childhood incidents, when Subject raised her voice, she struck Subject."

"She also said that as long as my child is gone, Hui Guifei's child would be the sole Crown Prince candidate."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunzheng's complexion suddenly changed.

Bai Li continues babbling: "She also said that when Hui Guifei gives birth to a Prince, she will become Empress."

Chu Yunzheng furrows his brows, coldly saying: "Li'er, the Empress is still in the temple; why would you think of Yi Hou?"

"It... it was Ning Daying who said it," Bai Li's tone halts, suddenly panicked.

At least for now, no one knows about Wan Tang's murder.

Chu Yunzheng lets out a sigh, murmuring: "Even if Hui Guifei is excellent, her solitary pride is hard to tame, truly unsuitable as a consort."

"If Wan Tang truly cannot return, I have a free choice in my heart."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze is deep.

Bai Li's heart trembles; what does the Emperor mean by this?

Why does he deem Wan Tang unable to return?

Just as I was about to probe further.

An Imperial Guard appears silently, whispering a few words into Chu Yunzheng's ear.

Chu Yunzheng's complexion changes abruptly, his gaze toward Bai Li becoming even more complicated.

He hurriedly pats her back: "Li'er, you have suffered; rest well, I will definitely compensate you."

"Emperor, Subject feels very sad," Bai Li says, her aim unfulfilled, wondering how she could release him.

Chu Yunzheng forcibly pries her hand apart: "Then Ning Daying may be dealt with as you wish, as a way to vent your anger."

"I have urgent matters," he says, then rises hurriedly and departs.

Watching the Emperor's departing silhouette.

Bai Li murmurs: "Did you hear? The Emperor already has a choice for Empress in his heart."

"Congratulations, Madam, this shows the Emperor has long wanted you to become Empress," the old granny says, smiling broadly.

Bai Li, feeling proud, says: "Fool, this is just a small piece of information. Didn't you see the Emperor's reaction?"

"That scoundrel is still alive; how could the Emperor think of these?"

"The Emperor's demeanor seems as if he knows that scoundrel has already met misfortune."

The old granny's face is pale; she is merely an old servant who once attended Lady Bai, managing women only passably.

But to guess the Emperor's mind, what is she at all?

Bai Li understands clearly.

She hisses coldly: "Didn't you hear what the Emperor said?"

"Have Ouyang Qing bring the person to my palace courtyard; I will personally watch her suffer torment."

Yes!

Changchun Palace's mournful cries echo continuously.

The closer one gets, the more cold sweat gathers on Hui Guifei's face.

"Stop! Stop it!"

A shout of anger.

Hui Guifei, with her big belly, staggers forward with Xiao Luzi's support, rushing in.